Quote:
Originally Posted by Phoenix_1
Birddancer, my dad was hyperthymic. Bipolar runs in the family, but he got lucky. He was a delightful man. I never saw him angry or overly sad, but people hide things from their kids, especially when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s. To me, he always seemed happy, even when stressed from work. I wish I was hyperthymic instead of BP 2.
|
Hi Phoenix, my reference to the hyperthymic personality in my previous post was partly a razzing of my psychiatrist and partly just referring to the fact that my base personality/temperament (whichever you want to use) is very upbeat and energetic, and very half glass full. That doesn't mean I am hyperthymic but NOT having bipolar disorder type 1. If my joking usage of the term caused confusion, I'm sorry. Jokes via writing are not always taken as intended, I know. Writing is a bit too much of a one dimensional form of communication (with exceptions). I often express myself in figurative ways, too, and stretch words' meanings. I realize that sometimes they are taken literally, even face-to-face. I do try to be more literal here than I am in person, but sometimes I slip up. Again, sorry about that.
It is my assumption that one can have a hyperthymic personality/temperament and have bipolar type 1 or 2 (getting depressed occasionally or even angry/irritable). In the link Wild Coyote provided it kind of implies you can't be both, but I don't know why one couldn't. I guess I'm challenging the definition slightly.